• I would like some people to help me plan the RP. These people will help guide the plots and schedule the weekly RP session.
  
• I'd like a historian. Someone who will copy the chat log of the RP into a text file with no formating and I'll slave through the text myself.
  
• I'd like RPers, and a health variety! I already have a planned plot, so I'd like to start on that first, but if you want to start your own let me know and I'll try to help make it happen.
  

1. What is Plot-Based RP?
   Plot-Based RP is role-playing to a player storyline. This may be driven by an individual, supplemented by the reactions of the participants, much like a Dungeon Master in Dungeons and Dragons, or by a group of people, as is often the case in online RP. As many of you probably immediately notice, there are a few challenges, which are addressed below.
   
   
2. Got a plot yet?
   Yes I do! Its more designed as a starting point, and we'll have a discussion on the actual direction, but we have the premise of an Ul'dahn Murder Mystery/Crime adventure thing. You can find the premise in this post:
   http://ffxiv-roleplayers.com/showthread.php?tid=5305&pid=66197#pid66197
   
   
3. How is scheduling handled?
   I'd like to make the plot-based RP a weekly event. Each week we have a meeting to decide the direction of the plot and on the weekend we RP the plot out.
   
   
4. What about open RP?
   I'm about to suggest something that may put some people off, but I am planning on treating outside RP as "non-canon". I encourage open RP, but it makes it too hard to keep the plot intact if I have to keep track of all RP at all times. But there are ways to keep outside RP canon with the plot. Example: Say my char is going to war. Any RP outside of the plot of the war, I consider "shore-leave" or "leave" or a sidestory or something. Something along those lines.
   
   
5. If someone cannot make the weekly RP sessions what happens if people RP on their own?
   I think our group of players is awesome enough to accommodate with at least some prior notice. :-) We can twist the plot that will allow for someone to not be there or just move the RP scheduled time.
   
   
6. This doesn't really allow for Open RP and creates a closed RP group. How to deal with that?
   Honestly, I don't think that matters. I think before every RP session (as mentioned above), if we know before hand you want to join, we can find a way to insert a character in. There is always a way! Besides we are a very creative community! The only thing that is not allowed, mostly, is literally barging in DURING RP, which is hard for some folks, including myself.
   
   
7. There is a plot barrier of entry. If you haven't been keeping up with the plot, how can you expect to join?
   After every planning session, I'll release a summary story board of the plot we have RPed and what we will RP. Think, "Previously, on 24..." style and "Next time on..." from television. After about 2 weeks of each RP session, I'll attempt to novelize the RP with all the gruesome detail as part of my writing project.
   
   
8. How do you enable consistency and cohesiveness?
   Careful planning with the participants. There will be a weekday planning session, that will decide the plot by committee. BTW I don't mean the WHOLE plot. I mean, we'll talk about where we left on and where will begin the next session. From there we will go with the flow. Rinse and repeat.
   
   
9. Why plot-based and not open?
   I have a fairly selfish reason for this, I'll admit. I mentioned earlier in this post that I want to write all the RP down in a novelized formats. That means proper sentences, full paragraphs, lore, etc. But most importantly, that means there needs to be a beginning, a middle, and an end. That can be really hard in free-form open RP. Thats the main reason.
   
   
10. ARE YOU CRAZY? Some say I am, but I am inclined to disagree. :-)
    

(10-30-2013, 06:40 AM)Celeste Wrote: Hello Lupo,

I don't think you will find much resistance to the idea of doing RP like this... but.

30 minutes to gauge interest? Really? It took me 30 minutes just to read everything!!

What I'm saying is, yes, this sounds like a good idea and all, but for the FIRST gauge of interest I would almost say give people at least a few days before you really start rolling with this. And also give people some time to meet with you and see if the sort of story you have in mind would be something they want to be a part of. In fact the big question that came to my mind really is "What is the general plot you want to see happen?"

• A wealthy Lalafell merchant has been murdered for no apparent reason. His gold and belongings on his person ravaged by the refugees and the Brass Blades are stumped.
  
• I'd like to play the murderer, a Bard with a cracked harp, no longer singing the songs he's learned. He's a vigilante gone wrong, and may have partners in crime.
  
• Some crimes are well planned, but he makes mistakes or goes out of his way to send a message, as with the murder above.
  
• I'd like to have a small group of RP of sympathists (maybe?) for him and most of the RP'ers working to catch him, maybe even kill him (If it happens, so be it!), some groups differing in their methods, but working to similar goals.
  

(10-30-2013, 09:21 AM)Unseen Harbor Wrote: Just out of curiosity, what kind of characters are you looking for?

(10-30-2013, 09:57 AM)Clover Wrote: Gaaaaan. I think my timezone plays against me here, so I don't think I'd be able to participate in your idea. It's still an awesome one and I wish you the best with it!

I must say that I love LOVE plot-based RP. In fact, the reason I haven't been as active RPing my main character is that there's nothing happening in the world, nothing she could react to, and I'm not really good organizing huge plots myself. I also love open RP, actually; I need a mix of both to be happy.

(10-30-2013, 11:08 AM)Lupo Wrote: For the plot question, I do have a plot in mind, but I'd like to gather a few like-minded people before I decide what plot we're going to do. At least 2-4 other people to keep me from meta gaming. Current plot currently planned is:

Ul'dahn Murder Mystery: Title Pending

Basic Premise:

• A wealthy Lalafell merchant has been murdered for no apparent reason. His gold and belongings on his person ravaged by the refugees and the Brass Blades are stumped.
  
• I'd like to play the murderer, a Bard with a cracked harp, no longer singing the songs he's learned. He's a vigilante gone wrong, and may have partners in crime.
  
• Some crimes are well planned, but he makes mistakes or goes out of his way to send a message, as with the murder above.
  
• I'd like to have a small group of RP of sympathists (maybe?) for him and most of the RP'ers working to catch him, maybe even kill him (If it happens, so be it!), some groups differing in their methods, but working to similar goals.